Railway-signal



0. JACKSON.-

RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1.918.

Patnted Apr. 27, 1920;

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

OSCAR JACKSON, OF DANVILLE'ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-EIGHT ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO OTTO E. NEWMAN, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed May 9, 1918. Serial No. 233,524.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Osonn JAoKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county ofVermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signals and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a train operated crossing signal whereby the signal will be automatically moved into display position as a train enters a block or predetermined space of track, thus serving to interrupt traiiic for a period of time suflicient to insure safepassing of the train; the signal then being automatically returned to its inoperative or non display position ready for further operation.

The foregoing together with additional advantageous details and arrangements of parts of the preferred embodiment of my in vention will be clear from the specific de scription hereinafter contained,when read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part thereof, wherein said embodiment of the invention is illustrated for the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im= proved signal,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the railroad track having the electrical operating circuit employed in conjunction therewith shown diagrammatically, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail partly in section through the operating solenoid.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the roadway over which the railroad track passes and which has arranged upon the opposite sides thereof tubular uprights 2 and 3, the lower ends of which are embedded in plastic bases f and in this way are securely anchored in their interior. To connect the upper ends of the tubular uprights 2 and 3 I provide a rod 5 having its opposite ends off-set as at 6 and connected to portions of said uprights while an incandescent electric lamp 7 is supported upon the intermediate portion thereof and is of course connected with suitable electrical conductors extending from a source of energy, not shown. In this connection, it is to be noted that the upright 3 is of greater height than the other upright and has its upper portion formed with an elongated slot 8, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

A receptacle 9-having a hinged closure 10 is arranged adjacent thelower portion of thetubular upright 3 and serves to receive an electro-magnet in the form of a solenoid 11 therein, while suspended within the tubular upright is a plunger 12 the lower end of which serves as the armature or pole of the solenoid.

Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the upright 2 is a track member 13,. one end of which is extended and provided with an adjustable weight 14 while the remaining ranged in spaced relation on portions of the track member and serving to limit sliding movement of the signal employed.

Rollers 17 provided with depending hangers 18 are arranged on the pivoted track member 18 and carry a sign 19 upon their lower ends, which sign may be provided with suitable warning matter, such as Danger Stop.

To cause movement of the sign 19 into displaying position over the roadway 1 upon the approach of a train, I employ the ordinary blook circuit including electrical conductors a and Z) having a suitable source of energy 0 interposed therein, while the ends of the conductors b extend into engagement with the terminals of the solenoid 11. Thus, when a train enters the block, the circuit through the solenoid 11 will be completed and upon energization of the same, its armature or pole will be drawn downwardly and as a consequence will cause the pivoted track member 13 to be moved to its lowermost position, thus arranging the same at an incline and causing the slidable sign 19 to be moved downwardly thereover to a point clearly visible from the roadway 1; sliding movement of the sign being of course limited by the stops 16. As the train leaves wardly to its uppermost postion, thus tilting said track in a reverse manner and cansing the slidable sign to be moved to its nor mal or non-displaying position.

I desire to have it understood that various forms of operating means may be substituted for the electrical block arrangement,

such as conditions or preference may dictate. Should it be desired, the plunger 12 can be connected to a suitable form of compressed air operated means which in turn can be operated upon the approach of a train.

It is to be also noted that the incandescent lamp 7 has its respective conductors in eluded in the block circuit and as a consequence, upon the closing of said circuit the lamp will be illuminated and in this Way offer additional warning to traffic.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is Within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 7

1. In a device of the character described including spaced tubular'uprights one of which is provided near its upper end with a vertical slot, a track member pivoted to the upper end of the other of said uprights at a point near one of its ends and having the end of its'long portion arranged in the slot in said upright, a weight carried by the end of the short portion of the track member, a

cluding spaced tubular uprights one of which is provided with a vertical slot near its upper end, a track member pivoted to the upper end of the other upright at a point near one of its ends and having the end of its long portion arranged in the slotted up right, a weight mounted on the end of the short portion of the track member, a plunger movable vertically in the slotted upright and pivoted to the adjacent end of said track member, a signal sl-idable on the track member, anda solenoid mounted in the lower end of the slotted upright for coacting with the'lower end of the plunger and serving as an armature or pole for causing a downward movement of the plunger at the time the solenoid is energized to cause sliding of the signal to an indicating position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature hereto.

OSCAR JACKSON. 

